The REMtronix 842 Antenna Review
- Thread starter TailGator911
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Doggone it, I can't help but recall someone awhile back on RR writing about "I got a drawer full of antennas throughout the years...". I think I am joining the club now.
I just bought another REM-820S for my BCD436HP...guess I'll be picking up some REM-842S, too!
I just bought another REM-820S for my BCD436HP...guess I'll be picking up some REM-842S, too!
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Hams and scanner buffs end up with a box or two of cases, antennas, chargers, and other stuff that they bought and used for some period of time and then put in the junk box. Gun owners end up with a box (or two) of holsters, magazine carriers, and other stuff that they bought and used for some period of time.
I have several RS and Remtronix 800Mhz antennas that I no longer use. Oh, and a Comet and GRE antenna too. I'm going to put them up for sale somewhere just to get rid of them.
As far as the holsters, I have to do the same, but I'll inflict that on a shooting forum.
I have several RS and Remtronix 800Mhz antennas that I no longer use. Oh, and a Comet and GRE antenna too. I'm going to put them up for sale somewhere just to get rid of them.
As far as the holsters, I have to do the same, but I'll inflict that on a shooting forum.
TailGator911
Silent Key/KF4ANC
A drawer full of antennas. That would be me, too. But I recommissioned a roll-up gun cleaning kit with lots of pockets and that has become the new home for my rubber duckies. Works well and saves space
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Two large Ziploc bags for me. It's interesting that I have some rubber duck antennas that are 40 to 45 years old and in great shape and others no more than 20 years old that just crumbled to dust.
Looking forward to this antenna coming this week, just for shts and giggles.
Looking forward to this antenna coming this week, just for shts and giggles.
TailGator911
Silent Key/KF4ANC
What's that tell you, Bob? They just don't make 'em like they used to lol
DJ11DLN
Member
I ordered one too, based on this thread. Looking forward to giving it a run-through.
So after a couple of days my results are fairly close to others... on 800 i can still receive the Springfield 800 system equally to my Radio Shack branded 800b, uhf in the 400's about the same as my REM VU-100 and Diamond rh77ca: and vhf-hi just slightly less as well as the VU-100 and rh77ca.
A pretty well rounded antenna for me to take on my trips to Springfield since I listen to all three bands and won't have to swap out antennas along the way now.
I did compare it several times on the vhf-hi with the other Remtronix dual bander and the Diamond and there is one distant NOAA station they can consistently receive enough to hear that is just noise on the 842, however most agencies i monitor 50 miles away in the 150.xxx area are all pretty equal on all 3, with the 800b just able to pick up agencies at around 15 miles out max on vhf-hi (which it is not tuned for anyways).
I don't have anything in the 700.xxx range to compare in my area.
Got my REM-842S on Monday, and I am pleasantly surprised that I can pick up adjacent counties that aren't on a 800Mhz system, but then again a tuned antenna is way better than the stock rubber ducky.
For local county stuff and travel in town, I will continue to use my SDS100 with REM-820S since it's a 800Mhz system, but if I anticipate travel outside the county, the REM-842S will be onboard, otherwise it'll live on the BCD436HP that is now relegated to primary analog duty.
The drawer pile of scanner stuff grows
For local county stuff and travel in town, I will continue to use my SDS100 with REM-820S since it's a 800Mhz system, but if I anticipate travel outside the county, the REM-842S will be onboard, otherwise it'll live on the BCD436HP that is now relegated to primary analog duty.
The drawer pile of scanner stuff grows
Something related, I guess, since the topic is Remtronix antennas for the SDS100. I just got a new SDS100, but for some reason, my old Remtronix REM-810S will not thread on all of the way. I don't want to force it. It was working fine on my BCD436, so I'm not sure what's wrong all of a sudden. I was wondering if anyone knows what the thread configuration is. I might be able to borrow a thread tap/die to chase the threads and see if that is the problem before I buy a new antenna.
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They design a slightly different one for the SDS-100 that includes the o-ring for weather sealing sealing. Model is REM-820S. I'm not sure how physically different the two are, but they did go out of their way to make an SDS specific one. It's to do with the collar though, not the threads.
Don't do that. It has nothing to do with the threads, and everything to do with the plastic collar around the outside of the SMA connector. A regular SMA antenna will not mate correctly.
Absolutely don't do that. The collar around the SMA connector means the exposed portion is about 2.5mm shorter than the connector on the 436, and most SMA antennas don't thread on far enough for the center pin to connect. Chasing the threads will just loosen the connector even more.
A drawer full of antennas. That would be me, too. But I recommissioned a roll-up gun cleaning kit with lots of pockets and that has become the new home for my rubber duckies. Works well and saves space
Antennas are like gun holsters.
I see that is actually the case after looking at it about 20 more times and finally breaking down and accepting that a new antenna, likely the Remtronix 820S is the best way (for what I am listening to most of the time).
DJ11DLN
Member
I have been playing around with my 820 for a couple of weeks now and it seems to match the REM/RS 800 performance in that band while only giving up a tiny bit to the RH77ca on VHF-Hi/UHF. And frankly the handier size makes it a much nicer antenna than the latter to carry around. It hasn't poked me in the armpit yet. I think I'm going to be ordering a couple more of them.
Garys,
Give the Remtronics REM-830B 700/800 MHz Base Angle BNC a shot!!
Any updates on how this antenna works? I've ordered one and am an anxiously awaiting it.
Long term wise, the REM-842S works really well. It's a little too tall for my own personal preference, but I used it when I was traveling and it's nice to have all bands mostly covered.
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